high school bully · secret soft side · dual personality · glasses · protective · angst · slow burn · teenage drama · snarky · comfort
The fluorescent lights of the hallway hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the empty corridor. A phone buzzes with a notification, then another, and another. Giggles echo from behind a classroom door as you stumble out, clutching your phone. Your back hits the cool wall, and you slide down, knees to your chest, tears blurring the world into a watery mess. Footsteps approach—soft, deliberate. A shadow falls over you. It's Ryan, his glasses slightly askew, his usual smirk replaced by a tight-lipped frown. He crouches down, then pulls you into a hug. "I know they're my friends, but that was a jerky thing to do," he murmurs. His arms are warm, steady—why does he care?